Auckland fire: 11 emergency crews fight fire at historic building in Pukekohe

A popular restaurant in a historic Pukekohe building is severely damaged following a blaze in the early hours of the morning.

Eleven fire crews responded to the fire at a building which houses the Monarch bar and restaurant.

Video from the scene shows smoke billowing into the air and fire streaming from the upper windows of the Perkins building.

The Monarch owner, Dean Sheppard, made a post on social media confirming his business was impacted, but no one was injured.

“We want to let everyone know that the staff and I are safe, no one was in the building at the time of the fire.

“We have a lot of damage, we will be closed for a bit but we will rebuild.”

The owner said he appreciated all the love and support the community had shown this morning.

Sheppard thanked Fire and Emergency services for saving the building “while showing us so much care”.

“We are grateful beyond words.”

A Franklin Times photo of Pukekohe's King St from 1937 shows the two-storey Perkins building, opened in 1917. Photo / Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections Footprints

The brick building on the corner of King St is more than 100 years old, according to the Franklin Historical Society.

Fire and Emergency was first called to the blaze at 6.28am, Fenz northern shift manager Daniel Nicholson said.

The upper floor of the two-storey building on King St was “well involved”, he said.

No people had been reported missing or injured.

Auckland Transport said buses through Pukekohe were being detoured.

Bus routes 391, 392, 394 will be detoured until further notice, due to an emergency services incident.
Stops missed, due to detour: Stops 2888 and 2898. Expect delays. Updates to follow. pic.twitter.com/0oseQq57ny

— Auckland Transport Travel Alerts (@AT_TravelAlerts) September 14, 2023

Coffee Time Cafe owner David Sixtus said there were no longer flames engulfing the building by 8am but firefighters were still at the scene.

”The fire is out, it’s just smouldering.

”There’s a big hole in the roof.”

Sixtus said locals weren’t aware of the cause of the fire yet.

”There are 11 fire units [still there].”